Rosalind Davis: Margate works at Blackbird.
Posted on: May 17, 2012
“Buildings can often be relegated to the background but can also contain all ones private thoughts, memories and emotions: Within them we live out our lives. Evolving, destroying, living, dying. We love there and lose there. ” Rosalind Davis
Blackbird is a curated space and studio; downstairs mainly a shop, selling handmade contemporary craft, illustration, ceramics and textiles. BUT, from time to time we are also priveliged to show artworks by artists who have a particular connection to textiles and making, narrative or Margate.
During the month of June we are thrilled to have a small selection of Rosalind Davis‘ work on show at Blackbird and have commissioned two limited edition prints of her Margate based works; ’The Flamingo’ and ’Dreamland’, both representations of iconic structures along the Margate seafront. In ‘The Flamingo’ the distinctive form of Arlington House stands proudly in the background.
There is much to say about Rosalind Davis’s paintings and use of embroidery; quietly powerful and complex, the two Margate based paintings are haunting and nostalgic, but without sentimentality. The inspired use of printed floral fabric in ‘The Flamingo’ and fake Hermes scarf in ‘Dreamland’, offer clues to Margates past and kitsch glamour, and as Davis has said about much of her work, the act of painting and stitching, is reparative in many senses and offers glimpses of regeneration and hope?
The original paintings will be on show and on sale; alongside some smaller works and the new prints, that offer a fantastic opportunity to start or expand your collection of art, with very collectable works of art from an emerging artist. Do come and visit us and Margate.
PS: The work pictured is sold and not available at Blackbird but we thought we should show you ‘Dreamland Welcomes You’ another Margate based work by Davis as taster sneak preview.
Kent chalk to Cornish slate. Rock clambering, seal watching and skimming stones.
Posted on: May 8, 2012
Even when you live by the sea its still fascinating to visit other coastlines. Last week we managed a few days in the most idyllic hideaway in Cornwall and swapped our chalk cliffs for slate rocks and silver beaches. Cornwall is of course well known for its tin mining but I had no idea that [...]
Painting on Buildings
Posted on: April 11, 2012
Blackbird is getting a new coat of paint. It was mostly a case of building maintenance as the bare wood on the sills and crumbling masonry was in need of attention before another winter set in. But it’s also provided an opportunity to change the colour and brighten up the front of our little shop [...]